Herat women turn to homemade products amid unemployment

HERAT (Khaama Press): In the last two years, restrictions in Afghanistan have pushed many women with tight budgets to start making homemade pastries at home to help with their family’s finances.
A woman from Herat, who preferred not to reveal her name, shared with Khama Press that she had been searching for work for three years with no success. The challenging economic situation and her family’s indebtedness forced her to prepare and sell homemade sweets on a tight budget.
At age twenty, she has been married for a year, and her husband has consistently supported her. After receiving orders, her husband delivers the sweets.
She added, “If, in these circumstances, I can support myself and my family, I am happy. I receive daily orders for ten to fifteen boxes of homemade cookies and I want to expand my business to support other girls, because, as she puts it, ‘At the very least, if I don’t become a good cook, I want to be a good sweet chef.’”
Another woman in western Kabul is also engaged in a similar endeavour to support her family and children. She told Khaama Press, “It doesn’t matter who imposes new restrictions or obstacles to women’s work; we are responsible for our families, so we must find a way to support our families.”
After the Taliban took control in Afghanistan, they banned women from going to school or working. As a result, hundreds of women have lost their jobs and are now struggling financially.
It’s worth noting that recent survey results from the Al-Biruni Institute, which has just been published, show that the level of family debt in Afghanistan increased by 67 per cent in 2023 compared to 2021.
According to this report, the ceiling for male unemployment has risen to 31 per cent, and female unemployment to 8 per cent in Afghanistan.
Despite continued restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan, many have turned to online education, sewing and painting courses, establishing online shops and restaurants, and producing homemade products as a way to adapt and support themselves and their families.